Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

Actress-comedian Susie Essman is best known to audiences for playing the acid-tongued Susie Greene on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” but she began her career as a stand-up, opening for people like Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Belzer and a young Gilbert Gottfried. For the first live GGACP episode (as part of the annual NYC Podfest), Gilbert and Frank sat down with Susie to talk about her obsession with Turner Classic Movies, her favorite “Curb” moments and how comedy saved her from a life of crime. PLUS: Peter Lorre! Margaret Hamilton! Susie roasts Jerry Stiller! Larry David pens a pilot for Gilbert! And the curse of the “Shiksa Goddess”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran character actor James Karen appeared in over 80 movies, more than 100 television shows and a staggering 5,000 TV commercials. In a career spanning nearly 7 decades (!), he’s worked with Frederic March, Lauren Bacall, Gene Hackman, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Will Smith, to name a few. Gilbert and Frank phoned James to cover a wide range of topics, including his film debut in the immortal “Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster,” his years-long friendship with the legendary Buster Keaton and his experience sharing a townhouse with Marlon Brando, Wally Cox and Maureen Stapleton. Also, James “sells” Craig T. Nelson a haunted house, a Boy Scout uniform leads to an acting career and a controversial “Jeffersons” episode nearly torpedoes a TV pitchman gig. PLUS: James parties with Clark Gable! Gilbert gets a one-cent residual check! Moe Howard recites from “The Tempest”! And James teaches a teenaged Michael Douglas to drive! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran comedy writer Tom Leopold started out as an actor, working with James Mason, Robert Preston and Ted Knight before creating comedy material for legends Steve Allen, Bob Hope and Mary Tyler Moore and writing hit series like “Cheers” and “Seinfeld” (scripting the memorable “Babu” episode, among others). Tom sat down with Gilbert and Frank to talk about early acting roles on “Gunsmoke” and “Mannix,” his days on the “National Lampoon Radio Hour” with Christopher Guest and Bill Murray and his years-long friendships with pals Paul Shaffer, Richard Belzer and Harry Shearer. Also: George Chakiris vs. George Maharis, Chevy Chase hitches a ride with Paul Lynde and 80-year-old George Jessel phones his mom. PLUS: Stubby Kaye! Gert “Goldfinger” Frobe! Donald O’Connor’s coat! Tom brunches with Jerry Lewis! And the triumphant return of Perfecto Telles! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gilbert and Frank reach out to actor and radio personality Danny Bonaduce to talk about his role as the smart-alecky Danny Partridge on ABC's "The Partridge Family," guest spots on shows like “Bewitched” and “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” and his long, strange trip from child star to top-rated shock jock. Also: Danny meets a young Richard Pryor, bangs up Sonny Bono’s Porsche, runs afoul of an angry chimp and dukes it out with Donny Osmond and Greg Brady. PLUS: Ray Bolger! Whit Bissell! Shirley Jones sends Danny to his room! And David Cassidy displays his hidden “talent!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Screenwriters/producers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have written some of the most offbeat and imaginative movies of the last three decades, including "Ed Wood," "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "Man on the Moon" and "Big Eyes." Gilbert and Frank dropped by Scott and Larry’s hotel as the boys prepped for the MOMA premiere of "Big Eyes" to talk about everything from their critically reviled debut film, "Problem Child" (featuring a certain shrill-voiced comedian) to their attempts at a Marx Brothers biopic and an "It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" sequel. PLUS: Margaret Keane’s existential crisis! Kelton the Cop demands a cameo! Gallagher vs. Gallagher II! “Ed Wood & Bela Lugosi: A Love Story”! And Scott and Larry meet the King of Pop! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York City-born Henry Winkler overcame a difficult childhood to carve out a memorable acting career, working with legends like Gene Kelly and Katherine Hepburn and portraying one of TV’s most indelible characters, Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. Gilbert and Frank dialed up Henry at his L.A. home to talk about his struggles with dyslexia, the genius of a young Robin Williams and Henry’s enduring friendships with Ron Howard and John Ritter. Also: Henry helps discover Marlee Matlin, meets John (and Julian) Lennon and explains the mysterious disappearance of Chuck Cunningham. PLUS: Fonzie parts the Red Sea! Sly Stallone paints his windows black! Henry turns down “Grease”! And Gilbert “sings” the “Lords of Flatbush” theme! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gilbert and Frank visit the George Burns Room at the historic New York Friars Club, where they’re joined by actor, singer and musician Micky Dolenz for a fun and fascinating look back at “Monkeemania” and his own unlikely journey from 1950’s child star (“Circus Boy”) to 1960’s pop/rock icon. Also, Micky drops in on a “Sgt. Pepper” recording session, makes movies with Jack Nicholson and Frank Zappa and hits the town with fellow “Hollywood Vampires” John Lennon, Keith Moon and Alice Cooper. PLUS: Lon Chaney Jr.! Micky’s mom meets “The Creeper”! The Monkees take on “Faust”! Harry Nilsson quits his day job! And Sgt. Bilko sings “Yesterday”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer, journalist and pop culture expert Steve Cox has authored more than twenty books on film and television, including books about Johnny Carson, The Three Stooges, "The Addams Family," "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Munsters," "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "The Wizard of Oz." This week, Steve joins Gibert and Frank for a lively (and then some) conversation about Larry Fine’s lady-killing, the unappreciated comic timing of Fred Gwynne and “Grandpa” Al Lewis, and Abbott and Costello’s influence on Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. PLUS: A Munchkin suicide hoax! Mayor McCheese cleans up! Buddy Hackett enjoys a malted! And Frank attends a Stooge funeral! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former teen idol Frankie Avalon broke into show business as a child prodigy and was soon receiving 12,000 pieces of fan mail per week and working alongside Hollywood greats Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx and John Wayne. Frankie joined Gilbert and Frank for a look back at his humble beginnings in South Philly, his years as a teen heartthrob and his decades-long friendship with onscreen love interest Annette Funicello. Plus: The Duke makes Laurence Harvey cry! Buster Keaton meets Houdini! “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine”! Dueling Draculas! And Cesar Romero and Arnold Stang hit a strip joint! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old pal Bob Saget drops by the historic Friars Club to plug his New York Times bestseller “Dirty Daddy,” and to chat with Gilbert and Frank about his early days in the biz, his 8-year gig as a sitcom patriarch and his friendships with Rodney Dangerfield and Don Rickles. Also, Bob starts his own hate society, dreams about Buddy Hackett and Buddy Ebsen and grills Gilbert about his most memorable “casting couch” experiences. PLUS: Perfecto Telles! Asian Elvis! Sam Kinison as the Messiah! Gilbert as “Weezie” Jefferson!  And the first joke Bob ever wrote! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices